Truth in Science ruffles a few feathers

The organisation has sent power point presentations and DVDs to every secondary school in the country and states that it wants to ‘promote good science education in the UK’ and asserts that its material is fully compliant with the National Curriculum and GCSE Specification. The Creation Science Movement fully supports such initiatives that help to increase the quality of science education in United Kingdom schools. The organisation also has a very useful website for science teachers. Truth in Science

Amongst scientific evidence that Truth in Science suggests students should consider as evidence for or against evolution is, the Development of Biological Resistance, Sickle-cell Anaemia, The Peppered Moth, The Miller Urey experiment, The Fossil Record and evidence of Hominid Fossils.

However, instead of addressing the apparent questionable quality of evidence for evolution, those supporting evolution have simply tried to sweep the evidence that might challenge evolution under the carpet and resort instead to painting Truth in Science as just another religious organisation. [1] Roger Stanyard from the newly formed British Centre of Science Education [2] takes a similar view and fails to address the scientific evidence cited by Truth in Science, but merely instead attacks the organisation. As he claims to want science taught in schools then we wonder why he is so afraid of debate when good debate is an integral part of the scientific process. ‘Christian think tank’ Ekklesia has also recently joined up with the British Humanist Association to try and shut alternative views that oppose evolution out of schools and close down debate. It is telling that in schools where debates are encouraged, such as the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, there is a high level of academic attainment.

Over the years a lot of evidence for evolution has been shown to be false and of poor quality, even on some occasion being deliberate fraud. It is worrying that such evidence often takes many years to be removed from school textbooks. We therefore welcome the spotlight that Truth in Science is bringing to the real evidence as they seek to increase the quality of science education in the UK. We would encourage the media to investigate the claims of Truth in Science more fully and wish Truth in Science every success.

[2] Stanyard, R, State of Science in our schools, letter to The Times, 3rd October 2006

Postscript 8th October 2006. Members of Truth in Science have also had a couple of letters posted in The Times over the weekend. These can be viewed at the following web link. Critics are challenged to identify any errors on their website. Andy McIntosh suggests their critics are seeking to brainwash the next generation into humanism and notes that children should be taught how to think not what to think, and be exposed to an honest debate. Truth in Science - letters in The Times